The mills crushed 1,410 lakh tonnes of sugarcane in this period, most of it coming from the major sugar-producing States of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Quoting figures from the Indian Sugar Mills Association, officials at the city-based S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute told
The Hindu
here on Tuesday that sugar mills in the State crushed 234.38 lakh tonnes of cane, at an average recovery of 10.25 per cent. And this despite the drought that prevailed across the State during the year, including the sugarcane belt in north Karnataka.

Belgaum, which has earned the sobriquet ‘sugar bowl of Karnataka’, produced 10.77 lakh tonnes of sugar, by crushing 102.31 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.

There are 20 sugar mills operating in the district, playing a major role in sustaining the agrarian economy.

Average recovery in the district has been estimated at 10.53 per cent for the period in question.

Till January 31, Godavari Bio Refineries Ltd. at Sameerwadi in Bagalkot district was the highest sugar producer in Karnataka.

It has crushed 10.75 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and produced 1.15 lakh tonnes of sugar.

Doodhganga Krishna Sahakara Sakkare Karkhane Niyamit, Chikkodi, also in Belgaum district, has achieved recovery of 11.57 per cent, believed to be the highest in Karnataka.

In 2012-13, sugar production by 510 sugar mills in the country was 137.51 lakh tonnes